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AeroSpace

A free, open-source i3-style tiling window manager for macOS, configured with a plain text file.

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About AeroSpace

AeroSpace brings i3-style tiling to the Mac. Windows are arranged automatically in a tree of horizontal and vertical splits, and you move focus, resize and rearrange with keyboard shortcuts. Instead of macOS Spaces, which it considers too limited, it emulates its own virtual workspaces, so switching between them is instant and has no animations. Configuration lives in a TOML file that fits neatly into dotfiles, and everything can be scripted from a command-line tool with man pages and shell completion. Unlike yabai, it does not require disabling System Integrity Protection. Multi-monitor setups follow the i3 model. It is free and open source under MIT, installed via a Homebrew tap. The project is still labelled beta, the app is not notarised by Apple (the author has chosen not to), and issues must start as discussions, so it suits people comfortable with tinkering. If you have used i3 or Sway on Linux, it will feel familiar; if not, expect a learning curve.

Best for: Keyboard-driven developers who want i3-style tiling on a Mac without disabling SIP.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Automatic tiling with instant workspace switching
  • Plain-text config and a scriptable CLI
  • Does not require disabling SIP
  • Free and open source

Why people leave

  • Still labelled beta
  • Not notarised by Apple
  • Steep learning curve if you are new to tiling

Top AeroSpace alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1yabai logo
    yabai

    More features through deeper system hooks, at the cost of partially disabling SIP.

    66.5
  2. 2Amethyst logo
    Amethyst

    Easier xmonad-style tiling with preset layouts and a settings window.

    62.6
  3. 3Rectangle logo
    Rectangle

    Manual snapping instead of automatic tiling, simpler to pick up.

    59.6
  4. 4Loop logo
    Loop

    Free open-source window snapping driven by a radial menu and shortcuts, for anyone who finds automatic tiling too rigid.

    55.3
  5. 5Hammerspoon logo
    Hammerspoon

    Script your own window logic in Lua if no tiling manager fits.

    48.9

Why people left AeroSpace

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AeroSpace: common questions

Is AeroSpace free?

Yes. AeroSpace is free, open-source software.

Is AeroSpace open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at nikitabobko/AeroSpace.

What platforms does AeroSpace run on?

AeroSpace is available for macOS.

What are the best alternatives to AeroSpace?

The highest-ranked AeroSpace alternatives right now are yabai, Amethyst and Rectangle. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 AeroSpace alternatives